Improvement in device for connecting horses to vehicles



A. SHALER.

Whifetree.

No. 99,357. Patented Feb. 1, 1870.

N. PETERS. Photo-Lithography, Waxhingon, D. C.

ditted gime parte and.

Letters Patent No. 99,357, dated February 1, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN DEVICE FOR. CONNECTING- HORSES TO VEHICLES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and`making part of the same.

To all whom it vmay con-cernI Be it known that I, ALEXANDER SHALEE, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and improved Device for Connecting Horses to Vehicles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof', which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to `the accompanying drawin forming' part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a top view of my improved device.

Figure 2 is al1 inner side view of a thill, and-the part of the device attached thereto.

Figure 3 is an outer side view ofthe plate to which the straps of the harness are attached.

My invention has for its object to furnish an iinproved device for connecting horses quickly and securely to the thills of vehicles, in such a way as not to require tugs or traces, and in such a way that the horse may be instantly det-ached from the vehicle, should he lbe'frightened or fall; and

It consists in the construction and combination ot" the various parts of the device, as hereinafter more fully described.

A represents the forward part of one of the thills of a vehicle, to the inner side of which, in such a position as to be just behind the horscs tore-shoulder, is attached a plate, B, having ears or sockets O, one o r more, formed upon it, to receive the eyes D of the harness-plate E.

The harness-plate E may be formed with loops upon its edges, to receive the back-strap F, the haine-tug G, the belly-band H, and the breech-strap I, as shown in figs. 1 and 3; or the plate E may be made without loops, and may be covered, except the eyes D, with leather, to which the straps F G H I may be attached.

l The eyes D of the plate E fit into the sockets of the ears C, in which, they are pivoted by the ends or branches of the sliding-rod J, as shownin'tigs. 1 and 2.

The rod J, when more than one ear C is used, is made with an oti'set, as shown in figs. l and 2, so that itsaction will not be impeded by said ears.

lhe rear ends of the rod J pass through a guidecye, K, att-ached to the rear part of the plate B, and

the said rod is held forward, to couple the eyes D and ears C to eachother, by the coiled or equivalent spring L, connected with the rear part of the said rod.

To the end of therod J that projects in the rear of the eye K, is securely and rigidly attached a thumbpiece, M, for convenience in drawing back the rod J for the attachment of the eyeplate D E.'

To the thumb-piece M is also attached the forward end of t-he strap or cord N,fwhich runs back throigh sufficient, but two or more may be used, as required.

`By this construct-ion, no tugs or traces are required, and the horse may be instantly attached and detached.

Another advantage of this construct-ion is that should the horse fall, he maybe quickly and readily detached, without its being necessary to cut the harness, or even to stop to unbuckle any buckles.

kHaving thus described my invention,

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination of the thill-plate B, one or more ears C, sliding rod J, coiled er equivalent spring I1, eye K, thumb-piece M, and harness-plate E, having one or more eyes I) formed upon it, with each other, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

' 2. The combination ofthe strap or cord N with the' thumb-piece M of tire device B G D E J K L M, and with the thill A, substantially as herein shown and described, .and for the purpose setk forth.

ALEXANDER SHALER.

'Witnesses GEO. W. MABEE, JAMES T. GRAHAM. 

